I just bought me an Interstate Arms Hawk Model 982 Pump 12 Gauge for home protection and even though I'm sure this has been discussed before; with new ammo coming out all the time I figured I'd ask your opinions on the best ammo for home defense. I think 00 buckshot would be too much and go through walls too easy and bird shot might not be enough, especially when going through leather. I did notice the Winchester Blind Side which looked intriguing. Also, suggestions on 2 1/2 or 3" would be nice. Thoughts?

I prefer to load with #1 Buck. I've got a whole lot of 00-Buck because that is the cheapest load out there. But in my Mossberg right now, and on my sidesaddle, are a bunch Winchester #1-Buck shells. That seems to me to be the best balance between power and higher number of pellets.

You don't need special over priced ammo to stop an intruder. I've got 3" bb in my hd shotty. I personally think slugs & oobuck are too risky in a home environment. Heck just the sound of racking the action on a pump shot gun will stop most people dead in their tracks,if not welllll

You don't need special over priced ammo to stop an intruder. I've got 3" bb in my hd shotty. I personally think slugs & oobuck are too risky in a home environment. Heck just the sound of racking the action on a pump shot gun will stop most people dead in their tracks,if not welllll

BB and up would be what I consider minimum. I prefer #1 but will take 0 or 00 because it is available. 2 and 3/4 should be plenty. It'salso easier to find, affoard and is more manageable as far as recoil, and you get more shells in the tube.

No disrespect intended, but I want to comment on that last part of your post.

Gun shop Shotgun myth #1

"I'll use a shotgun for home defense because racking the slide is enough to scare anyone away without having to fire a shot."

I think this is a dangerous assumption. If someone wants to bet their life on it, I think it is a bad bet. Criminals have been shot, and don't necessarily stop. Why would someone assume the sound of a gun would automatically stop them?

Here's an article from Atlanta that helps correct this assumption:

ATLANTA NEWS 1:17 p.m. Thursday, October 27, 2011

Burglar ignores shotgun warning, is shot by Buckhead homeowner
By Mike Morris
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A burglar who ignored a warning blast from a shotgun was shot in the leg early Thursday after breaking into a mansion on West Paces Ferry Road in Buckhead, police said.
Homeowner shoots intruder
Atlanta police dispatchers received a call shortly after 2 a.m. about a burglar inside the home, which sits well off West Paces Ferry near Northside Drive.
After being awakened by his burglar alarm, the homeowner "got out of his bed and walked to the top of his steps," Atlanta police Sgt. Curtis Davenport told the AJC. "He heard someone downstairs so he went back and got his shotgun."
Davenport said that when the homeowner returned to the top of the steps, "he saw a subject coming up the steps toward him and his family. The homeowner yelled out to the unknown subject to get out of his house."
The intruder continued toward the homeowner, who fired a warning shot into the floor in front of the man.
"The subject paused, then started coming further up the stairs," Davenport said. "The homeowner fired another shot at the subject's leg."
Davenport said the intruder, 25-year-old William Leisy Jr., had entered the side door by force.
Leisy, who Channel 2 Action News reported was drunk at the time of the incident, was charged with burglary and taken to Grady Memorial Hospital in stable condition.

There's a lot of little takeaway info in this one little article.
-Burglar wasn't detered by an alarm.
-Burglar wasn't detered by armed man with a shotgun telling him to stop.
-Burglar wasn't detered by a warning shot.
-Burglar was shot.
-Burglar was drunk.

So, not knowing the state of mind of a burglar it seems pretty narrow minded to assume racking the pump on a shotgun will end a potentially bad situation.
Other errors I see from the homeowner are that he went to investigate without being armed, and then had to return to get his shotgun. He fired a warning shot (may or may not be a good idea, but I have always been trained that warning shots are not exactly smart.) He then shot to wound, a burglar who was not detered by at least three deterents.

Side note. Burglar was treated and in stable condition. Don't know what kind of ammo was in the shotgun, but if pellets don't go to vitals, then it is a poor stopper.

As indicated, between #2 Shot and #0 Buck would be my go to. Lighter for shorter. #2 if you're in a studio apartment, all the way up to but not past #0 Buckshot as the all purpose tactical round when you just don't know who, what, when, where or care why...

I agree with above that duck/goose loads are a great choice. Awhile back on this forum a member(sorry I don't remember who) stated 00 buck has the advantage if you end up outside your home the 00 has longer lethal range. Which I thought is a good point if you live in the country.